The latest on the manhunt for the escaped Pennsylvania killer

Updated 2:42 p.m. ET, September 12, 2023

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12:05 p.m. ET, September 12, 2023

Escaped Pennsylvania killer is armed with a stolen rifle as search continues. Here's what we learned Tuesday

From CNN staff

Police gave an update Tuesday morning on the massive manhunt for the convicted killer who escaped from an eastern Pennsylvania prison nearly two weeks ago.

Danelo Cavalcante, who police say is armed with a stolen weapon, has still not been caught as the search enters its 13th day.

Cavalcante broke out of the Chester County Prison on August 31 by “crab walking” between two walls, scaling a fence and traversing across razor wire. Since then, Pennsylvania State Police have said multiple credible sightings of the escaped inmate around the area.

Here's what we learned:

A multi-agency search: There are now about 500 law enforcement members assisting in the manhunt, Pennsylvania State Police said. Personnel are from several different agencies, according to Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police. He said "nothing has gone wrong" during the search so far, adding, "I believe we will be successful in the long run."
The latest sighting: Cavalcante was most recently spotted Monday in Chester County’s South Coventry Township, about 20 miles north of the county prison he escaped from, according to an emergency alert sent by Chester County officials Monday night to area residents via email and text message.
The fugitive is armed: Cavalcante "is considered armed and extremely dangerous," Bivens said. He said Cavalcante has a .22 caliber rifle that he stole from a resident's garage overnight. That homeowner fired several shots at Cavalcante, but the fugitive is not believed to be injured. Police said they believe Cavalcante is “desperate enough” to use the stolen rifle. People living in the search perimeter have been asked to secure their homes.
Located footprints: Police found footprints in mud that were “identical” to the footprints of the shoes that Cavalcante wore in prison, Pennsylvania officials said. After they found the footprints, Cavalante’s prison shoes were found abandoned, according to Bivens. Another resident told police a pair of boots were stolen from her porch.
What is making the search so challenging: One challenge is the terrain of the search area, Bivens said previously. It is a large, densely wooded area with many places to hide. It has also been difficult to secure a search perimeter because it had a “massive” underground tunnel system, large drainage ditches and thick vegetation, he said.

11:12 a.m. ET, September 12, 2023

There's no blood or other evidence to suggest Danelo Cavalcante is wounded, state police tells CNN

From CNN's Brian Todd and Kristina Sgueglia

Escaped Pennsylvania prison inmate Danelo Cavalcante was most recently spotted Monday in Chester County’s South Coventry Township, about 20 miles north of the county prison he escaped from, according to an emergency alert sent by Chester County officials Monday night to area residents via email and text message.

Cavalcante "is considered armed and extremely dangerous," according to Pennsylvania State Police after he stole a .22 caliber rifle from a resident's garage overnight. That homeowner fired several shots at Cavalcante, but the fugitive is not believed to be injured.

"There is no blood or anything on sight that leads us to believe that [the homeowner] wounded Cavalcante — it was just enough to force Cavalcante to back out of the premises and back out into the woods," Lt Col. George Bivens told CNN Tuesday.

Bivens acknowledged there is "some frustration" that the inmate remains at-large, "but the morale is high."

"Throughout this, I've maintained a high level of confidence. I would hope that we're able to get him in this perimeter. We’re going to search and I anticipate we will find him in there. All I can tell you is we will do our absolute best. We will capture him one way or another," he told CNN.

Bevins also added that Pennsylvania State Police believe the escaped inmate "is familiar" with the area where he was sighted Monday night because he's been there a few times.

11:20 a.m. ET, September 12, 2023

Here's a timeline on the escaped Pennsylvania inmate's latest sighting as explained by state police

From CNN's Celina Tebor

Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Colonel George Bivens speaks during a press conference on Tuesday. CNN

The escaped Pennsylvania killer Danelo Cavalcante was reportedly seen Monday night, Lt. Colonel George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said Tuesday during a news conference.

Here's a timeline of Monday night's events that he shared:

8:00 p.m. ET: A motorist reported seeing a male along the south side of Fairview Road, west of Route 100. The motorist turned the vehicle around “in an effort to verify what she saw,” but the individual was gone. Law enforcement formed a perimeter around the area.

Police found footprints in mud that matched those of Cavalcante’s prison shoes. They tracked the footprints and found his prison shoes abandoned. A nearby homeowner reported a pair of work boots had been stolen from her porch.

10:10 p.m. ET: A call received from a resident in South Coventry Township indicated a “short Hispanic male, no shirt, and wearing dark pants had entered his garage while the homeowner was in it.” Cavalcante grabbed a .22 rifle that was leaning in the corner of the garage. Homeowner drew a pistol and fired at the fugitive as he fled with the rifle.

Pennsylvania State Police responded and secured that scene. At that time, a green sweatshirt and white t-shirt believed to be owned by Cavalcante was found in the driveway. Search perimeter was expanded to include that area.

Overnight: Searches within perimeter were conducted by tactical teams from multiple agencies.

10:17 a.m. ET, September 12, 2023

Escaped inmate's encounter with homeowner is believed to be a "crime of opportunity," state police say

From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia

Pennsylvania State Police say they believe the escaped inmate knows where he is as he has been in the area before, adding that they believe Danelo Cavalcante’s encounter with the homeowner was a “crime of opportunity.”

The homeowner encountered Cavalcante in his garage and fired several shots at him using a pistol, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said. There is no indication Calvacante was injured as a result of the shooting.

“I think he went in there probably trying to hide, the garage door was open — he didn’t, I believe, recognize that the owner was in there. He was probably looking for a place to hide, ran for that garage, saw the firearm, grabbed that, encountered the homeowner and fled with the firearm,” said Bivens.

Detailing the "very strong" perimeter of search, Bivens said “it will take a long time to clear that entire area.”

“No perimeter is ever 100% impenetrable,” he added, saying police will do their “very best” to capture him.

10:06 a.m. ET, September 12, 2023

Police believe Cavalcante is "desperate enough" to use weapon he stole

From CNN’s Celina Tebor

Pennsylvania Police said Tuesday they believe escaped inmate Danelo Cavalcante is “desperate enough” to use the .22 caliber rifle he stole from a homeowner's garage.

“We considered him desperate, we consider him dangerous, all this does is confirm for us that he has a weapon,” Lt. Colonel George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said during Tuesday’s conference.

“He’s killed two people previously. I would suspect that he’s desperate enough to use that weapon,” Bivens added Tuesday.

About the weapon: Police say Cavalcante took a weapon — a .22 caliber rifle with a scope and flashlight mounted on it — from a homeowner’s garage.

The homeowner encountered Cavalcante when he stole the rifle and fired several shots at him using a pistol, Bivens said. There is no indication Calvacante was injured as a result of the shooting.

9:58 a.m. ET, September 12, 2023

Around 500 law enforcement members working on Danelo Cavalcante manhunt, state police says

From CNN’s Celina Tebor

Law enforcement officers gather as they search for escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante in Glenmoore, Pennsylvania, on September 11. Matt Rourke/AP

There are about 500 law enforcement members assisting in the manhunt of escaped inmate Danelo Cavalcante, Pennsylvania State Police said Tuesday.

The agencies involved include Pennsylvania State Police, the US Marshals, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to Lt. Colonel George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police.

Law enforcement is planning for an extended operating period, if necessary, Bivens said during Tuesday’s conference.

Bivens defended the department's search for Cavalcante, telling reporters "nothing has gone wrong."

“And I believe we will be successful in the long run,” he added.

9:54 a.m. ET, September 12, 2023

Escaped Pennsylvania inmate is not believed to be injured after resident fired "several shots"

From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia

Police say they have “no reason to believe” escaped inmate Danelo Cavalcante was injured as a result of a resident firing “several shots” after a rifle was stolen from the homeowner's garage.

“We have no reason to believe he is injured as a result of that shooting,” Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Colonel George Bivens said.

“I think he is just trying to survive and avoid being captured right now,” Bivens added.

Bivens said “several shots” were fired by the homeowner toward Cavalcante.

The escaped inmate has been considered “dangerous” from the start, so this “changes nothing,” he added.

“We’ve always considered him to be a risk, we just now absolutely know that he has a weapon," he said.

9:48 a.m. ET, September 12, 2023

Police not recommending evacuations while authorities hunt for "armed and extremely dangerous" inmate

From CNN’s Celina Tebor

Pennsylvania State Police are not recommending evacuations for residents at this time amid the manhunt for escaped inmate Danelo Cavalcante, officials said Tuesday.

Police sent messages to residents within a 3-mile radius of where Cavalcante was spotted overnight Monday, Lt. Colonel George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said during Tuesday’s news conference.

Cavalcante "is considered armed and extremely dangerous," Bivens said Tuesday.

9:43 a.m. ET, September 12, 2023

Police found footprints that matched escaped Pennsylvania inmate's prison shoes

From CNN’s Celina Tebor

Police found footprints in mud that were “identical” to the footprints of the shoes that escaped inmate Danelo Cavalcante wore in prison, Pennsylvania officials said during a news conference Tuesday.

After locating the footprints, Cavalante’s prison shoes were found abandoned, Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police told reporters.

A resident in the area reported that a pair of work boots had been stolen from her porch, Bivens said.